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(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that his
office has concluded its investigation into the alleged sale of fetal tissue by Planned Parenthood affiliates. While the investigation did not find any indication that fetal tissue was
sold by Planned Parenthood affiliates in Ohio, the investigation did reveal
that that aborted fetuses from Planned Parenthood facilities are ultimately
disposed of in landfill sites.
Earlier this year, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine
directed his Charitable Law Section to investigate whether Planned Parenthood
affiliates in Bedford Heights, Cincinnati, and Columbus were violating Ohio law
by selling fetal tissue, or abortion trafficking, in violation of Ohio Revised
Code 2919.14. The Charitable Law Section requested documents and financial
records from Planned Parenthood organizations as well as companies they
contracted with. The investigation did not find that fetal tissue was sold by
Planned Parenthood affiliates in Ohio.
The investigation showed that the disposal methods
documented by the Planned Parenthood affiliates violate Ohio Administrative
Code 3701-47-05, adopted in 1975, which requires that a “fetus shall be
disposed of in a humane manner.” Specifically:
- All three Ohio Planned Parenthood affiliates have
sent fetal remains to companies which disposed of the fetuses in landfills.
- Additionally, the Planned Parenthood facility
in Bedford Heights stated it uses only one company for disposal. However, that
company stated to investigators it does not accept fetal remains for disposal
as a corporate policy.
“Disposing of aborted fetuses from an abortion by sending them to a
landfill is callous and completely inhumane,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike
DeWine. “It is important the public be aware that these practices are taking
place at these Ohio facilities.”
Attorney General DeWine referred his investigative findings
to the Ohio Department of Health for further action. A copy of DeWine’s letter
is available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.
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